Prescribed Burning

For more information and a map of current burning operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin, visit the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team Website.

Prescribed Fire season usually lasts well into the winter months while multiple public land management agencies may be burning on their properties. During these times, you may see smoke and flames on various project sites around the North Tahoe area.

Prescribed burning is a vital ecological tool for forest management. Placer County Air Pollution Control District strongly supports the use of prescribed burning in the appropriate situation and work with land managers to avert smoke impacts on the public.  For current air quality, visit Air Now.

North Tahoe Fire Protection District is currently engaged in one pile burning operation. It is taking place on the Carnelian Woods Townhomes Association property (see map). A total of 68 acres of pile burning was completed during fall/winter 2023. We have a goal of burning the remaining acres in fall 2024 or winter 2025. Adjacent property owned by the Ca Tahoe Conservancy is also planned for pile burning in 2025 and 2026.

The California Tahoe Conservancy is also engaged with pile burning in the area following a similar schedule. Please keep in mind that other agencies including Cal-Fire, the US Forest Service, and Ca State Parks are engaged with fuels reduction treatments and prescribed fire.